So… I’m thinking of changing my theme.
Thoughts? Experiences? Recommendations?
Anyone?
Okay what do I want?
Clean design
I like red.
Widgetised obviously.
WordPress.
Fixed width (I think).
I want to show the entire posts on the front page. No more of this “read more” malarky.
That’s about it.
Your input welcome.
At the dinner dance
So this is me and allconsuming at the dinner dance which followed the first ever Australian Bloggers Conference.
Note the tweeter in the background.
OMG everyone was tweeting.
Except me because my stupid phone stupidly ran out of batteries and then I took it upstairs to charge but stupidly forgot that when you take your passcard key out of the little slot all the electricity is turned off and so the phone ran even further out of batteries. Belief!
Anyway, I tried tweeting during the conference discussions and it was too distracting… so I stopped and then I got told off by Kelley (so glad to have met you even though you scolded me for not replying to your tweets).
Kelley's tattoo
What a biatch.
But I was glad I stopped because I was missing out on some gems because I was too busy coming up with witty comments or trying to, and reading the chatter.
So what did I learn?
Well in the social media part I quite liked the “Twitter Formula” for successful twittering:
20% me
30% flogging your blog
50% retweeting and interesting links
That sounds quite good don’t you think?
Because what I’m liking more and more about twitter is the personal recommendations for other good stuff online… you expect a bit of self-recommendation so that’s okay and I do love a little small talk but a mix is best I think.
And I am now a twitter whore!
I blame Deeleea.
Which is fair because she blames me for getting up to dance the nutbush when she CLEARLY wanted to.
‘Sif she wanted to just sit at the table, drink wine and chat. 
Anyway in the space of 24 hours I found myself tweeting all sorts of rubbish: The price of scrambled eggs, the navigation fail on the ferry, the wet wet weather… why does it always come down to weather with me?
And I was checking in to #ausblogcon2011 every few minutes checking in on my new bloggy friends.
Today I’ve noticed that the behaviour has continued.
Facebook?
Oh yeah I remember you.
One of the things to come out of the Social Media section was the thought that creating a page for your blog was better than using your personal profile.
And if you’re using it to add value to your blog well maybe it is.
Do I want to go there?
Maybe. Once the twittermoon is over… *cringes at dreadful mash-up of Twitter and Honeymoon*
So I learned a few things, was inspired to blog some more, and met some fantastic people.
People I hope to keep up with in the future both in person and of course on Twitter.
Hey I met River! A regular commenter on this blog!
sorry the photo is a bit blurry
And shout outs to Kelly who sat next to me and had magnetic cards (very sexy), Ally who came up and said hi (yay!) and Rebecca who convinced me to have one too many cocktails at the open bar welcome drinkies. But weren’t they delicious!
There is a full list of attendees here.
I can also see myself going to the 2012 conference.
I think the organisers have learned a lot.
Personally, I’d like to see sessions on “form versus content”… maybe a debate?, “must have widgets”, “effective graphics/banners/images” to name a few.
It would be good to get some concurrent sessions looking at various blogging platforms – blogger, wordpress etc so you can ask questions, maybe get some tips and tricks, news, how to get the best out of your chosen platform.
Maybe something on cool apps – for both iphone and android.
Maybe there could be breakout socialising sessions for various blogging niches – mummy bloggers, personal bloggers, craft bloggers, dads, food, reviews, fashion – that might also encourage a greater range of bloggers to attend.
Yep I reckon you need two days.
The dinner dance was a revelation.
I thought goodness, whose going to want to go to a practically 100% female dinner dance?
But it was so nice to dress up and chat with all these lovely women.
And to be honest, you bloody blokes don’t dance anyway.
And we did dress up.
Which goes to show that we don’t dress for men.
I wonder if next year there’ll be a more even gender balance?
Gawd I’ve waffled on haven’t I?
Well one last observation for now:
Hand dryer
Have you had a go drying your hands in one of these?
I’m not sure they are as effective as the slogan suggests but they are SUCH good fun!
Tragically your correspondent was seen wetting her hands just so she could dry them again.
So yay.
Great conference, great city, great stories and great fun.
Read more here from Aussie Bloggers
[note that the makers of the hand-dryer did sponsor the dinner dance but this mention is not sponsored at all. I don't have one of their vacuum cleaners and am very happy with the one I have... especially as Groover does the vacuuming anyway]
So the conference is over and a better organised conference I don’t think I’ve been to.
This btw is really a holding post.
Written from my phone.
Today my plan is to catch a ferry to greenwich to stay with a friend.
Then tomorrow catching up with a few work friends before heading back to perth in time for the first night of the women’s teams.
Bridge of course.
And it’s raining in sydney town!
Remember rain perthites?
I love not being hot so much I am not even going to take a taxi to circular quay.
I certainly won’t look hot after that.
More on the bloggers conference when I get to a computer but for now love to my new bloggy friends.
You are amazing.
xxx
How does that saying go… It’s as pretty as an airport?
Well I made it.
Packed this morning so probably forgot something important.
Certainly concerned that haven’t brought “right” clothes for the event. What does one wear to a bloggers conference anyway?
Too late to worry about that now.
Should board shortly. Do I have time for a quick wee?
Not if I keep blogging.
Exciting club!
Sydney here I come!
Ah. Ten minute delay. Excuse me while I powder my nose.
wine and filing - a perfect combination
Flights – check
Hotel booking – check
Blog cards? Um… not check
Blog cards were not on my radar for things to take to the Aussie Bloggers Conference in Sydney this weekend (OMG only a few days away!!) so when I read Tiff’s latest post I almost fell off my swivel chair.
What a good idea.
But I’m heading to Bunbury for two days for work and then I’m off to Sydney so when can I get blog cards made?!
Then I remembered a packet of business card printy thingys that I bought a hundred years ago.
Could I find them amongst all the bills and wine in my office/wine storage unit?
Of course I could.
But then…
What to write?
Do I just write my handle? Or my real name? Or both?
Facebook profile?
Twitter?
When did life get so complicated??
At least I have got some new boots to wear and I hear the weather will be cool.
Loving the idea of rain.
What a novelty!
Update: Pretty much FAIL. Ah well. Who needs blog cards anyway – you know who I am.
Oh and if you want to see who is coming along to the conference on Saturday – check out the list below:
We are going! Are you?
Brenda at MummyTime The Mother Media
Veronica at Sleepless Nights, Veronica Foale, Veronica does Food
Nicole at Planning with Kids
Tina at Tina Gray {dot} Me
Karen at Miscellaneous Mum
Kate at Picklebums
Caveat Calcei
Zoey at Good Goog
Sarah at Ah, the possibilities!
Woogsworld
Nellbe at Nellbe’s Gluten Free Kitchen
Marita at Stuff with Thing
Sam at Learn. Create. Do
Toushka at Ramblings from Toushka
Ally at Acting like a Mama
Bells at Bellsknits
The Not Drowning Mother (The NDM)
Cath at Squiggle Mum
Kim at Frog Ponds Rock
Tiff at My Three Ring Circus
Susan at Mummy Daze
Beth at Baby Mac
Mama K at Levis Genes
Lucy at Diminishing Lucy
Susan at Reading Upside Down
Meredith at Oh, the Thinks You Can Think
Corinne at A Day in the Life
Shae at Yay for Home
Yvette at Happy Child
Cooking with too much salt
Rebecca at Crazy Lady Ramblings
Nikki at Styling You
Christie at Childhood 101
Holly at Good Golly Miss Holly!
Bronnie at Maid In Australia
Belinda at Save Mum’s Sanity
Amanda at HomeAge
Sarah at Just Me
Frances at CoAstY’s Journal
Megan at Mothers Matter
Liss at Frills in The Hills
Michelle at Farmers Wifey
Marilyn at Live First, Write Later
Allison at Life In A Pink Fibro
Multiple Mum at And Then There Were Four
Bern at So Now What?
Naomi at Under The Yardarm
Kakka at Menopausal Mumma
Princess TrueLove at My Kid Is Too Funny
Fox In Flats
Mum/Toddler/Babe
Megan at Writing Out Loud
Naomi at Seven Cherubs
A Cajun Down Under
Kim at allconsuming
Sunny Side Up
Jacki at More Than A Mummy
Ann at Likes To Write
Lori at Random Ramblings of a SAHM
Jodie at Mummy Mayhem
River at Drifting Through Life
Aimee at The Best Boy in the Whole Wide World
Katrina at The Organised Housewife
Danimezza at Danimezza.com
Peskypixies at Peskypixie’s Blog
Ms Dovic at Small acts of kindness
Sarah at The Super Whites
Katie at Colour Me Katie
CelloBella at Redsultana
Melbourne Mumma
Anne at Forks In The Road
Bakchos at Blak and Black
Aspiring Millionaire
Dana at Hunter Organics
Michelle at Bump
Jen at Jemikaan
Dorothy at Singular Insanity
Louisa at Everything Is Edible
Cat at Wouldn’t It Be Loverly
Mumstrosity at Mumstrosity
Donna at Nappy Daze
Deb at Science @ Home
Melinda at Stop at the Kerb
Corrie at Retro Mummy
Relish, My Relish
Kimberley at Pop Couture
Candy at Candy’s Family
Suzanne at Quilt Sew Scrap
Sophie at Red Dust Love
Eden at Edenland
Catch The Kids
Inner Pickle
Julie at Natural Transition
DaniV at Health & Fitness Mum
Raising Ellyanna
Cristina Romeo
Alisi’s Mummy
Amanda at Calico and Co
SawHole
The best Of All Possible Worlds
Mum’s Gone 2 Aus
Carly at
*
Sweaty me
10.30am, Saturday, it is hot and humid.
Feeling: pious because I have done my c25k run/walk today
Hearing: New Zealand radio on digital
Tasting: coffee from our coffee machine – Yallingup Coffee Company
Loving: that is the weekend and tomorrow I get to catch up with my new storytelling friends
Regretting: that I left it so long to do my c25k run… now I am behind and getting fat
Hoping: that Aftermath will be fabulous this afternoon
Wishing: that someone else could do the grocery shopping for me
Laughing: at my last score on National Flag Quiz… how embarrassment
Avoiding: doing the shopping but wait… there will be air conditioning at the shopping centre!
Enjoying: our newly cleaned pool – thanks Groover!
*I have totally stolen this from Von.
My gorgeous storytelling buddy
No, my gorgeous storytelling buddy is NOT a geek, that’s me.
And my inner geek has been seriously excited by the chance to go to the Aussie Bloggers Conference…
Not that if I’d been organised I couldn’t have gone anyway but I wasn’t so I was on the waiting list and then I get an email yesterday from Fiona, well really from an organiser who cc’d me in on her reply to Fiona, and Fiona couldn’t go so I got her ticket.
Yay!
I booked flights before I could think things through too quickly (after making of course the requisite checks with spouse and boss) and I’m going to Sydney!
Excitement.
Anyway why is my gorgeous friend in the photo of this post?
Well we’ve been catching up recently on a Friday afternoon down at one of our fave haunts – Havana – and when I told her about the conference she was all ”hey I think I’ll be in Sydney around the same time”.
Awesome!
Because she is a blogger too…
So now the plan is that she’ll come to Sydney the weekend before – we’ll hang out at the dinner with hopefully James as well – and then we’ve got the next couple of days to chillax.
Double yay!
Good things are supposed to come in threes…
Can’t wait to find out what the triple yay thing is.
Nice phone but no flash... wish I knew that before I bought it...
It’s a Samsung galaxy and apart from the fact that it doesn’t have a flash, it is very gorgeous indeed.
I don’t get why there isn’t a flash though.
You would think every one would want a flash and I didn’t even think to check as I assumed it would have one.
Not very smart.
Still apart from it’s flash-less-ness, it’s a lovely device and I can see I’ll be most distracted by it in the weeks to come.
I have access to my own copy of Angry Birds.
And oh that’s right… A new phone number as well.
Email me if you want it.
Or call me on my work number.
My son reminds me that my phone does record in HD video though so I won’t complain too loudly… although I will be complaining because if there is no flash – recording at night – even in HD – will be lame.
So I’m at the Media140 conference in Perth – a conference about tweeting and facebooking and blogging and the impact of social media on marketing and corporations.
Some of the issues already raised are ones I think most corporations are facing – especially those who already have a social profile – like radio stations etc… you know the whole what people should be able to say online, what if they bring your brand into disrepute one night after consuming a bottle of Tequila…
One of the more interesting speakers this morning was Jared Woods who is the Communications Manager with SKM – an engineering firm.
I guess I never considered that even engineering firms would have to deal with social media.
One of their policies at SKM (which I assume got past the board once the board learned what Facebook was) is that if you say you work for the company you need to abide by the Avatar Dress Code – which is basically you should dress in your picture as you might for work.
Fair enough.
In fact… I think that’s a good policy.
There was a lot of talk of monitoring what staff say about your brand using Google alerts and something called Social Mention.
I’m sitting here listening to a session on brand reputation and it is a vexed issue.
I get that.
But I think it is also a vexed issue for “private” bloggers/tweeters/facebookers.
Increasingly, work and home life is blurring online.
I’ve been writing this blog for myself since 2002.
Before Facebook, before twitter, before my work had computers on every desk (okay… not quite that long).
I use a handle rather than my name, I don’t mention where I work (although many of you may have guessed), I have two Facebook accounts – one for work and one for personal stuff.
So does that mean I can write what I like on this blog?
I mean obviously I’m not going to slag off work or my colleagues but maybe I shouldn’t be writing posts about my new underwear policy.
How much do I allow the work filter to affect my choices on this blog – on my twitter feed?
And of course while I can try and control what is in the personal bucket and what is in the work bucket, I can’t control what others do.
For example my personal twitter account has been linked in with other people’s twitter lists – using my work as a tag.
So now my personal profile is linked to work.
Not my doing.
Does it mean my personal handle is compromised to such an extent that I can’t write what I like?
My feeling is no.
But that could be my heart more than my head.
I love this space to write about things that take my fancy. To write about my life.
I would hate to lose it and start again.
So have you dealt with this issue?
What is your feeling?
The things I do for this blog. The extremes I will go to.
Take the other night. Hugamuga suggested we have a family swim down the beach.
Never mind that the news had been full of shark sightings and that someone had actually been taken.
Never mind that sea breeze was in big time and sea was choppy and rough.
Never mind that it was after seven o’clock and all the lifeguards had gone home.
Never mind that we have a perfectly good, and recently cleaned pool in our backyard.
We went to the beach.
Once in, I was determined not to swim above my depth. Staying in the shallows getting wet was enough.
Groover had other ideas:
“Hey want to swim around the pylon with me?”
“No way! Swim in shark infested waters, when the visibility is zero and no lifeguards… you must be joking!!”
“You could blog about it…”
“Hmmm. Okay then.”
Brave or tragic?
And I can report that the pylon looks even worse from the seaward side.
